2026 /Q3

 

As I get closer to goal (135?) things have slowed some on the scale shift, but honestly, anything under 150 feels pretty dang good. Sometimes I can't believe I'm in the 140 (this quarter staying in the 145-150 range most of the time). 

I was able to hit my goal of an average of 20k ... getting those steps in!

A look at activity via "Active Minutes" ... 

Attempting an average of 100+. Achieved!

Again, even with activity up just a bit, the overall daily burn went down.  Take away some of that extra weight and I guess that is bound to happen. A good thing to keep aware of ... so close to an average of 2500, but just shy each month.

It's the eating though ... you can't out cardio the calories!  I have been slipping slightly ... I have never lost the sugar cravings as many on a GLP have mentioned. Still a constant struggle. I think the key for me is prioritizing protein, tracking all intake (I use MFP), and limiting my eating hours (IMF). 

For fasting ... I stick pretty much to a 12:00-7:00 schedule for eating.  

16 hours minimum. I did one long fast (a full day) in August.

... and sleep

Happily, my snoring seems to have resolved. My main tracker/alarm (SleepCycle) still detects a little bit here and there, and I'll occasionally have Snorelab set to track, but it doesn't show enough to include stats here.  

I love Life360 ... visual time capture in a graph. 

I'm working on some family photo collages of the last three months. Hubs has been doing a lot of races (triathlons, half marathons). We had our youngest come in July (away for college) so had some family fun (lake day, Red Robin, full family pickleball) ... an anniversary (34 years) and some birthdays (three boys). Basketball/Men's League, Zumba, Pickleball, BookClub, PokerNights. Sourdough and succulents. PokemonGo. The "airport" icon wasn't travel, but an attempt to get me TSA precheck, but we didn't have all the necessary paperwork, so that's still in the works 

I finished up my What I Was Watching recap, and you'll find my books below ...

All are recorded, rated and reviewed on GoodReads and TheStorygraph. 

I'm #JenBsBooks on both.

Onto the final quarter of the year ... and one year since I went in for my physical and started working on my weight loss (adding Tirzepatide, committing to counting calories, prioritizing protein, improving eating, IMF, more weight workouts and upping my activity). There've been a few mental shifts too, overall, a good thing I think. 

2026/Q3 ~ What I Was Watching (July/August/September)

 Time for my quarterly recording of What I Was Watching ... mostly while working out in the home gym (treadmill/elliptical), with some TVTT (TV together time) with Hubs winding down before sleep. I feel like this was a big "watching" quarter ... not sure why.  20 movies, and 20 seasons of shows!

Starting with #JenBsMovies 

... only one was upstairs with Hubs, all the rest I was in the gym.

• Michael: My #1 son had really liked the movie and recommended it. Just okay for Hubs and I. We used some "no rush" credits for the purchase, although if we'd waited a bit, it hit streaming soon after.
• Song Sung Blue: This was good ... really caught me in the feels, and I enjoyed the music. I recommended it to Hubs and he watched it on his own afterward (also while working out). 
• The Devil Wears Prada: I'd seen the original a time or two, but figured I should do a refresher watch before checking out the newly released sequel.
• The Devil Wears Prada 2: This just didn't do it for me ... I mean the three leading ladies looked great, they have aged well, but the story? It seemed like it was just attempting to have fun cameos over anything else.
• Legally Blond: Rewatch ... I'd watched the musical version and really enjoyed it, and figured I'd give the original another go (and then I ended up tuning into the new series Elle). 
• We Live In Time: This was good, a little confusing with the time shifts.
• Here: Another with lots of time shifts, but a unique story.
• Pressure: I've read a ton of WW2 books, but hadn't really had story explaining the weather connection to D-Day. 
• Young Woman and the Sea: I saw a random ad for this/Disney, and it intrigued me enough that I checked out the movie. I quite liked it. 
• In the Blink of an Eye: Another "time" one ... three timelines/connected. I liked it. 
• Enola Holmes 2: Cute enough, but I didn't go on to the third one ... yet?
• The Thursday Murder Club: Many rave about the book, but the book was just okay for me. Same for the movie. 
• The Dink: Super silly, but sometimes mindless stuff can be enjoyable (I do play pickleball). 
• The Spectacular Now: I really can't even remember much about this movie, and when I went to input it in my IMDB list that I track, it said it was already there (that I'd already watched it). It is apparently not very memorable for me!
• People We Meet on Vacation: I hadn't really enjoyed the book, and figured I wouldn't waste my time on the movie adaptation - but a couple people said it was better than the book. I think I agree.
• The Hitman's Bodyguard: Silly action, it was fine.
• Solo Milo: I like Kevin James, and I think was expecting more from this. Just, blah.
• Practical Magic: This wasn't in my movie list, but I know I have watched it before at some point. I really didn't remember it though, which is why I figured I should give it a watch, in case I want to see the sequel.
• Burlesque: I think maybe I've seen this one before too? No record of it, but it felt familiar. The nudge to watch was a reel of a scene that popped up in my Facebook feed. Interesting to have the two main ladies show off their voices, but Kristen Bell and Diana Agron (Quinn in Glee) have wonderful voices but don't show them off here.
• The Last Five Years: Another peek/preview circling social media caused me to check this musical out (Hoopla) ... but while I enjoyed some of the singing, I didn't feel like there was any story.

... on to TV

• Paradise (S2): Hubs and I watched the second season ... it didn't have the same impact as the first season/I missed the haunting music covers. The "outside" storyline was so different that Hubs turned to me and asked "Are we watching the same show??"  Ultimately enjoyable, if a bit over the top. Not quite sure I understood the ending/where the next season would be headed ...
• Reacher: Hubs and I had watched the first season ages ago, and figured we'd give it another go. I didn't care for it though, just completely unbelievable.
• Man on the Inside: Hubs and I were ready for some lighter-lifting and this fit the bill. Cute. I'm not feeling compelled to continue on with the series though. 
• Death by Lightning: This was interesting ... felt like I learned a little and had to Google and research some of the things shown to find out what was true/based on fact. 
• The Testament: I'd watched all of Handmaid's Tale, so I figured I should invest the time in this follow-up/companion piece. It kept my interest.
• Elle: I wasn't sure how a prequel would work (we know she doesn't end up with either love interest as I had just watched the movie featuring the later years). This was cute though. 
• Not Suitable for Work: Entertaining enough ... I might have watched a second season, but I heard it was cancelled, so I guess not. 
• Seeking Persephone: I liked it, not one I RAVE about as so many have.
• Every Year After: A bit confusing with the time jumps. I struggled a bit keeping the past/present straight (sometimes it wasn't as obvious as it needed to be). I guess this was based on a book, but not one I've read. I liked it ... didn't like the ultimate ending though.
• Anne with an E: As a fan of the original mini-series, I hadn't been sure I would ever watch this, but when I was struggling to find something, I gave it a go. I liked it. I'll probably come back and watch the other seasons, but felt like I needed a switch up as I concluded the first.
• The Perfect Couple: I think the intro/dance scene is what enticed me to watch. This had a "White Lotus" feel at the start (someone is murdered, who, and who did it??) but then turned more soap oprea-ey. But still, it kept my interest.
•  Lucky: A little too over the top for me, but I guess it kept my interest, and exercise energy up.
• The Diplomat (seasons 1-3): I'd seen this advertised but just hadn't been that interested, even though I really like Kerry Russel. When I decided to give it a go, it snagged me pretty quick, and each season ended on a cliffhanger that made me want to continue watching.  Looking forward to when the fourth season drops.
• Trying: This reminded me a bit of  "Collin from Accounts" ... I liked it, but held off watching the fourth season (hadn't heard good reviews on that one). 
• Only Murders in the Building: I'd watched the first season a long time ago. There had been a scene from the third season (the lullaby song) that intrigued me, and I figured I'd come back. Watched a recap of season one, then watched two/three ... but then needed a break.

... a lot of "watching" this quarter, but I am generally not JUST watching, but walking or on the elliptical, getting my steps in. I noticed that little previews/reels on Facebook/Insta were effective at catching my interest enough that I sought out and streamed the shows featured. Advertising works!